Therefore have we, after mature deliberation approved and ratified, as we do hereby approve and ratify the Articles mentioned in the foregoing extract; requiring and ordering, that the contents thereof shall take effect according to its form, and be observed and maintained by all and every residing within our jurisdiction whom it may in any wise concern, without doing or suffering anything to be done to the contrary, on pain of incurring our highest displeasure. For such we have found to be for the greatest advantage of the country. Given at the Hague under our seal, paraph and the signature of our Clerk on the two and twentieth of February, XVI'= and fifty-six.

Gomrnittee of the We-st India Company to the Coynmittee of the City of Amsterdam.

[ From the Bundle endorsed Yersclwide Sliikken rakeilde de Colonie van Nieiiw Nederlandt, Nos. 2, 8, in the Stad Buys, Amsterdam. ]

To the Honorable the Committee of the City of Amsterdam for the affairs of the West India Company.

Honorable gentlemen. Holland Doeamenta, The auswers ofthe Committee of the Directors of the West India Company in XV., 184. yesterday's Conference to the questions proposed by you, are in substance briefly as follows

First. Concerning the acquisition in New Netherland. That as the superintendence of that district is left by the respective Chambers exclusively to the management ofthe Directors here, the occasion fitly presents itself to attach and affix that land to this City. That the Directors aforesaid will willingly undertake to communicate to the Regents here the orders which might be successively made for the prosperity of the aforesaid Country, and to do nothing without their knowledge. That the climate there is very mild and healthy, entirely agreeable to the constitutions of the inhabitants of this country, also by nature adapted to the production of all sorts of Eastern fruits and crops, besides the conveniency of Trade which daily increases, in divers respects, both with the Natives of those parts and the neighboring English.